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Parliament‘s Appointments Committee on Monday continued the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie despite a boycott by the Minority, who have rejected the process.
Tensions escalated after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, in his opening remarks, described the nominee as a “disputed nominee,” prompting an immediate objection from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
“I am objecting to the use of the term ‘disputed nominee’ because there is no dispute before this House,” Ayariga argued, insisting that Parliament’s Standing Orders prevent MPs from questioning issues already ruled on by the House.
Afenyo-Markin rejected the objection, saying the Majority Leader was attempting to silence the Minority and block them from expressing political views. “We are political actors. We also have a right to speak. We cannot be prevented from expressing our view,” he said.
The confrontation was part of a deadlock over the report produced by a separate committee that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The Minority has repeatedly described her removal as a “travesty of justice” and questioned the legality and transparency of the process.
Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, intervened during the proceedings, ordering that any references to the Torkornoo report or Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who chaired the investigative panel, be expunged from the official record, noting that committee members would not have an opportunity to respond.
Despite the boycott and the deadlock, the committee proceeded with the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
